Brumbies consolidate second row stocks

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Cape Town - Promising lock Darcy Swain has signed a
new one-year contract with the Brumbies that will keep him with the
Canberra club for the duration of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

Swain, who was born in Queensland and attended Brisbane Boy’s
College, made his Brumbies debut against the Jaguares at GIO Stadium
this season when he replaced Rory Arnold in the 63rd minute to become
Brumbies number 208.

“I am very happy to have signed a new deal with the Brumbies and I am
looking forward to continuing to play alongside some of the best locks
in the game,” Swain said.

“In Sam Carter, Blake Enever, Rory Arnold and Richie Arnold we have
some very experienced second rows off whom I am constantly learning. I
feel that my game is improving all the time and that we have an exciting
future at the club.

“The Brumbies have been like a second family to me since my arrival
from Brisbane and I was grateful to make my debut this year and earn my
first Brumbies cap in front of the loyal supporters and my family. I am
looking forward to helping the Brumbies push for a Super Rugby title in
2019.”

Swain made the move to Canberra in 2016 and made an immediate
impression in the inaugural Super U20 competition with the Brumbies,
before going on to link up with the Tuggeranong Vikings and putting in
some impressive displays in the John I Dent Cup.

Such was his form, he was selected to captain the Brumbies in the
2017 U20 competition and as subsequently to appear for Australia at the
Junior World Cup in Georgia where he won two caps.

A mobile lock, who is at home in the loose and a strong ball carrier,
Swain brings a physicality to the set-piece and is a dynamic presence
in both the line-out and at scrum time.

“Darcy came down straight from school and has made the natural
progression, coming through our pathways system, he’s played NRC for the
past couple of years and his club football with Tuggeranong,” Brumbies
head coach Dan McKellar commented.

“One of the attributes that Darcy has is his physicality, he brings
intent in everything he does and has excellent set-piece skills,
particularly at the lineout.

“Physically he’s still got some growing to do but players like Sam
Carter and Rory Arnold won’t be around forever, so it’s important to
have the next generation coming through and Darcy is a big part of that.

“The more games he gets the more confident he’ll be and there’s
certainly good times ahead for him. He’s a leader at his club and I’d
guess he may be looked at for the leadership group in NRC this year as
he’s certainly a guy that players respect.

“He doesn’t rant and rave but when he speaks guys listen, even with him being at a young age.”